District councils should be allowed to charge a ‘prevention precept’ to help them get to the root of health inequalities, according to a new report.

By widening the 2% adult social care levy to districts, the Government would enable them to play a bigger role in the prevention agenda.

The King’s Fund estimated that for every £1 invested in preventative work, almost £70 is saved in future health and social care costs. The precept, announced last year’s autumn statement, is currently restricted to unitary authorities. But the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has argued that it should be extended to the district element of council tax bills – as long as the extra income raised is ringfenced for prevention services.

Cllr Neil Clarke, chair of the DCN, said: ‘District councils make a major, but often under-recognised contribution to the health of their citizens and communities.

‘This report from The King’s Fund shows that as English devolution and the move towards integrated place-based public services gathers pace, districts will be critical partners for the NHS and other tiers of local government seeking to develop population health systems.

‘Prevention work is shown to be far more effective than all other measures, and it is for this solidly-evidenced reason that we are making the district council case for solving the funding anomaly in district and county areas and giving our members the freedom to set a 2% prevention precept.

’A 2% district levy targeted toward prevention initiatives would be an excellent start in averting higher future health costs and could repay as much as £70 for every £1 invested by districts in our areas.’